Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Steven Erlanger, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent in Europe for The New York Times, based in Berlin. Europe's political centre is confronting a crisis that extends far beyond electoral volatility. From France and Germany to Italy and Spain, mounting economic frustration, generational inequality and declining confidence in established political leadership are reshaping the continent's democratic landscape. "The promises of more economic growth haven't come true," explains Erlanger, describing a continent marked by "a kind of general disgust" and "a sense of drift."
Research carried out by the Alliance4Europe NGO suggests that pro-Russian networks manipulated information online in an effort to exacerbate anger in France ahead of last weekend's massive protests and subsequent unrest. After analysing more than half a million posts across various social media platforms, the group says it was able to track the campaign back to the start of September. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks with Omri Preiss, Managing Director at the Alliance4Europe.
The far-right European Parliament group of French presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen's party said Wednesday EU prosecutors were searching its offices as part of a graft probe into its now-defunct predecessor. The Patriots for Europe group said the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) had been searching its administrative offices in Brussels and Strasbourg "since this morning". FRANCE 24's Dave Keating reports from Strasbourg.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that Ukraine supported a US proposal for three-way talks with Russia and the United States at the level of negotiators to be held as soon as possible, preferably no later than early November. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Grégoire Roos, Director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, says that "it's not clear whether Putin would meet Trump and Zelensky", adding that "meeting Zelensky is the last thing that Putin would be prepared to do".
The death toll from a drone strike Monday on a market in an area disputed between Sudan and South Sudan has risen to 153 and is likely even higher, a local official told AFP on Wednesday. Authorities in Abyei district said the strike on the Amiet market involved the use of multiple munitions and was carried out by the Sudanese army. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Jan Pospisil, Sudan Affairs Analyst at the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform. He says that for a long time the Sudanese army has tried "to portray a picture internationally that they are humane, whereas RSF is committing atrocities. Here we see very clearly that there is not much difference between these two".
Marine Le Pen is set to officially launch her presidential campaign this weekend at the National Rally two-day party congress in Orléans. The latest Ifop poll, carried out in the wake of the mass protests and riots in France, suggests the far right leader would win the first round of the presidential election by a wide margin, and far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon emerged as her most likely opponent in the runoff. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell reports.
US President Donald Trump's pivot away from Ukraine has triggered fresh questions about his attachment to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the man a top American envoy flattered on Wednesday as a "humanitarian. Trump has cast his dealings with Putin as part of a mega-deal that has secured the release of American detainee Stephen Hubbard -- and which Trump says will end Russia's war on Ukraine. FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg reports from Kharkiv.
The UN is warning that global commitments to cut planet-heating emissions are falling far short of the Paris climate goals of 1.5 degrees Celsius warming – and put the world on course for 2.6C warming this century. The report by the United Nations Environment Programme lays bare the chasm between rhetoric and action when it comes to tackling global warming, and the challenge before political leaders at November's COP31 climate summit - set to take place next month in Turkey. Story by Emerald Maxwell.
French President Emmanuel Macron landed in Riyadh on Wednseday, adding an unscheduled stop to his ongoing tour of the Gulf region. The president's office said the visit aimed to demonstrate “France's solidarity” with Saudi Arabia in the face of attacks launched by the Houthis against its territory. Details by FRANCE 24 international affairs editor Douglas Herbert.
Moscow is ready to resume trilateral US-Ukraine-Russia talks next month, the Kremlin said Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Russia. FRANCE 24's correspondent Gulliver Cragg has more.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned comments by "foreign leaders" on the violent protests in France on October 17. He has now arrived in Saudi Arabia as part of his Gulf tour.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu met with union leaders today in France. His government admitted law enforcement officers had lost control this past weekend during protests which resulted in scenes of violence and looting. The country is bracing for more protests – the Yellow Vest movement called on demonstrators to take to the street on Saturday. As the events unfold, far-right leader Marine Le Pen is gaining popularity. Details and analysis by FRANCE 24 international affairs editor Rochelle Ferguson Bouyahi.
In the first round of Brazil’s presidential elections, Flavio Bolsonaro got the most votes in 15 electoral districts in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, compared with 9 for Lula. This part of the city, long associated with the left and the social policies of Lula’s Workers’ Party, is now shifting towards former president Jair Bolsonaro’s son.
Italy approved a raft of security measures on Tuesday including a new offence of violent participation in a demonstration, tougher penalties for rioters, and financial liability for parents whose children take part in vandalism and looting.
Angela Diffley is pleased to welcome Peter Zalmayev, Founder and Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, LIVE from Kyiv. And he warns, "I'm seeing, I'm smelling a Yalta II. I'm smelling another Munich (1938), where we're seeing appeasement of the aggressor." Ukraine faces the possibility that its sovereignty and security could become mere bargaining chips in an era Zalmayev describes as great-power "collusion". He delivers a forceful critique of the Trump administration's approach to Russia, arguing that Washington is weakening Ukraine's negotiating position while offering Vladimir Putin little incentive to abandon his maximalist demands. At stake, he suggests, are the cohesion of the transatlantic alliance, and the credibility of Western security commitments.
Did you know French people eat 1.4 billion pain au chocolats a year. The sweet treat is a national treasure, but a debate rages on over what to call it.
France is bracing for yet another weekend of protests by high school students and the "Yellow Vest" movement. The government says they're increasing security and personnel to trying to mitigate any violence or chaos. Story by Ophelie Jacobson and France 2.
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